When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism

Political provocateur Bill Maher tells it like it is in a useful and hilarious guide for the many Americans who want to do more here at home to help in the war effort, but are at a loss as to how. Says Maher, "Traveling the country, I find that people want to do more here at home, but are at a loss as to what. Even when the government issues a Terrorism Advisory, it's maddeningly vague - 'Terrorist alert today! Code Burnt Orange!' 'And what?' I always want to ask, "Bring a sweater?'"

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Publisher's Summary

"After September 11, when Bill Maher offended easily-offended people with a widely (and in many cases, deliberately) misunderstood remark, Ari Fleischer said that people need to watch what they say and do. In this very funny but ultimately serious, provocative but truly patriotic book, Bill prescribes what Americans can do to defend our nation. And please put this blurb as far away from Ann Coulter's as possible." - Al Franken

"Bill Maher has inherited the mantle of Mark Twain and Jonathan Swift and he wears it with aplomb. If he were living in any other time or in one of many other countries he would truly be in danger of being put to death for his legendary ability to say the unthinkable and say it better (and before) anyone else. When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden is destined to be the most talked-about book of the year." - Larry King

"Bill Maher has the courage to speak his mind - no matter what the consequences - something you can't say about most people these days. And he's damn funny! Now, more than ever, the country needs his outrage. Agree or disagree with him, there is no question that what he has written in this book should be front and center in the great national debate and I, for one, am thrilled that this cantankerous s.o.b. is still there doing battle for the republic we all love." - Michael Moore

"Bill Maher loves America, hates conventional thinking, and, despite his curmudgeonly image, has a heart of gold. In the war on terrorism, we could use a little less tolerance and sensitivity and a little more manly anger. In this book, Bill leads the way hilariously." - Ann Coulter

I'm a big Maher fan but I found this book mostly a waste of time. Most of his rants he has done before and funnier -- this one is more "serious". However he wrote the book in 2002 and so much of the material is dated. Some of the rants in this book are off topic as well -- what does euthanasia have to do with terrorists?

He does bring up a lot of excellent points. If you need some enlightening as to the decline of Western civilization and the global effects of American gluttony, there are lots here. His wit is sharp as always.

However, while stating that American myopia and blissful ignorance about everything outside her borders infuriates the rest of the world (which it does), he promotes that kind of thinking in his own opinions. As Iraq has shown, the President is not the "leader of the free world" anymore, and the mighty American military can't beat any country in the world into submission simply by attacking it. No country can win a war against a determined population -- the Soviets found that out in Afghanistan. America found that out in Viet Nam. And America hasn't the greatest nation on Earth for 200 years, only for the last 50. Before WW2, America was still a struggling new nation.

He also neglected to mention the contributions other countries made in Afghanistan and even in WW2, continuing the trend of the American media to rewrite history. He also didn't mention that people of many countries lost their lives in 9/11, which made 9/11 an attack on everyone, not just America.

These kinds of hypocrisies disappointed me and detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

Maher provides some thoughts worth considering, particularly about how we Americans should "frame" the situation in the Middle East - what fundamentally causes the issues that people concern themselves with, and sometimes cause bloodshed. My first encounter with Bill Maher, and I was impressed. Now I occasionally catch him on cable... -

I must say reading the other reviews put me off from listening to this book until I saw Bill on Larry King live and was impressed at how he cuts to the heart of the matter on much of what is happening in the world today. I'm glad I gave this book a listen not because Bill has the "answers" but because he asks many of the "right" questions to get people thinking while poking fun of the slogan based pap generated by our current leaders. I recommend you download this book as it will immediately entertain you but of course if I'm wrong don't forget to "stay the course" and whatever you do don't "cut and run".

Bill is kind of a lightweight. I agree fully with what he says, and I appreciate his humor, but this book is stating the obvious. It's not bad - just not great. He doesn't bring a lot of insight to the issues he examines. Watch his show or HBO special and you will more than cover what is hashed out in this book. I think he has potential, but not this time around... Try Al Franken's LIES for a side splitting but serious take on the right wing nightmare.

Bill Maher is right on in his critique of our oil-addicted economy. Renewable energy programs should be a priority of our country, and yet here we are about to dump hundreds of billions of dollars into yet another Middle Eastern war to preserve the stable supply of oil into the world market. And they say renewable energy is too expensive?

This book made me laugh and reflect. It's not often that I find myself so much in agreement with an author. Bill Maher is able to verbalize some common sense methods for America's survival in a post September 11th world. Political correctness takes on a new meaning after reading his latest book. If you love reason, you'll love this.

An excellent listen... educational, insightful and hilarious at the same time. And with Maher narrating, this book is more like watching his stand-up comedy, which makes it even funnier. Highly recommended.

Bill Maher addresses the subject of "real" patriotism in this brief but engaging expose of Junior Bush's failure to rally American's together following 9-11. There's plenty of humor, of course, but Maher has a very serious message to impart, as well, as he covers such topics as oil consumption, diamond traders and drug wars. You may want to run out and buy the book after listening to the audio portion of this colorful picture book.

Since I don't read a lot of political books, I found many of Bill's points to be fresh for me. There was a lot of insight about American's needing to do more that I had no idea I needed to do. And Bill spares no one when it comes to criticism. I was readily agreeing with Bill over his critism that the guys who drive big trucks that guzzle gas with 2-3 flags flying off it, causing more gas consumption, would be more patriotic if they drove a vehicle with smarter gas mileage. But, it was a bit harder to swallow that my diamonds may be contributing to terrorism and the mutilation of poor children in Africa. :(

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